Winkler, Manitoba

WINKLER , MANI TOBA primary highway connecting PTH 14 to the Walhalla, North Dakota border. It was just a two- lane roadway with tight accessibility, despite the flow of approximately 18,000 vehicles per day. Previous traffic studies prioritized reconstruction. Harder explains, “The request was to create a four-lane road with turning lanes and lights to accommodate the community’s growth. We have a different system in Manitoba where the province builds the roads, but when money is short, they ask the city for contributions. That’s where we got involved. PTH 32 is the main route through the city, feeding the industrial, commercial, and residential areas.” Another key project, years in the making, was the Meridian Exhibition Centre (MEC). Completed in December 2020, it was named after Meridian Manufacturing Inc., which contributed $1.25 million dollars toward its construction. The Winkler Centennial Golf Course (WCGC) also benefitted from generous community donations. The $1.5 million dollars raised built a beautiful new clubhouse with a Mulligans Restaurant & Lounge. Even an inclusive playground was built in the community – funded by the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities foundation. According to Harder, “We were the first small Canadian city to receive one; our local Canadian Tire dealer came up with the idea. Construction was to start last March, but along came COVID-19 and the program was cancelled nationwide. The funds were still there, so Jumpstart built it for us after all. By September, the first fully accessible playground was complete and took off like gangbusters. Kids were standing in line waiting for the fencing to come down so they could go in there to play.” These key projects were achieved through the successful collaboration between the city, local businesses, and the community. Contemplating the past year, Winkler’s City Manager, Jody Penner, believes, “It’s easy to let the coronavirus define what 2020 was; but for us, I think that Meridian Exhibition Center Meridian Exhibition Center